A Fifteenth-Century Pottery and Tile Kiln at Leyhill, Latimer, Buckinghamshire

A FIFTEENTH-CENTURY POTTERY AND TILE KILN AT LEYHILL, LATIMER, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

MICHAEL FARLEY & JO LAWSON

A single-flue pottery kiln built of tile and brick and constructed within a disused roof-tile kiln is described. The pottery kiln utilised structural features of the preceding tile kiln and there seems to have been little interval between the two episodes of use. Archaeomagnetic dates suggest a date in the late fifteenth century. The products of both kilns are described and parallels discussed.

In May 1987 footings trenches being dug for a Buckinghamshire County Museum (Ace. No. new bungalow in the grounds of 1, Joiners 350.1987, CAS 5612). A copy of the archive Close, Leyhill, Latimer, cut through buried will be deposited in the NMR, Royal Commis• walls constructed of tile (NGR SP 98680222). sion on Historical Monuments (England). Marion Wells, who learnt of the find, kindly notified the County Museum after visiting and Historical Background realising the significance of the discovery. The The name 'Leyhill' loosely covers an area on first author then recorded features exposed at the western side of Leyhill Common, adjoining that stage, and subsequently, after the footings the hamlet of Botley. In the mid nineteenth had been placed, with the agreement of the century it contained a number of small farms owners, arranged for a small excavation in the with Cowcroft Wood lying to the south, app• following month to expose the remainder of roached by Tylers Hill. BQth tithe map and first the structure. This work was carried out with edition Ordnance Survey map (1893-7), indi• volunteers from Buckinghamshire County cate small scale extraction of sand and clay in Museum Archaeological Group. the area, with two working brickfields at Cow• croft Wood. One of these, worked by the The excavation exposed a pottery kiln set Dunton Brothers, was in production into the within a tile kiln, both apparently of late 1970s. Earlier production of tile is indicated by fifteenth-century date. The available resources the road name and by various occupational permitted examination only of the structure, references in the seventeenth century, such as along with part of the stoking area. It is likely those in the Chesham parish registers to that other structures may exist to the east of William Gurney referred to as 'of Tilers Hill' in the kiln, since small areas of subsidence were 1679 and as a tiler in 1691, and in a deed of reported in the garden. Examination of the 1714 relating to Tilers Hill to which one party bungalow footings trenches to the west how• was James Atkinson 'late of Botley, Tile ever, gave no hint that the site extended maker'. further in this direction. Discovery of the kiln in 1987 led to a report After examination, the kilns were re-buried. of an earlier find made c. 1953 when the sub• The finds and records have been deposited in floor arches of a kiln, built of tile, were dis- 35 Chesham

Fig.. 1 Leyhill location

Ley Hill Common

2 4 5 =:J6km

I. 2 Ley I'll , locatiOn. o f excavatiOn. & of preVIOUS. discovenes------. m . the area F g. h covered at a house named 'Beverley' during of having been laid rather more loosely as the the building of an extension (Fig. 2, 1). face was rising. At the upper levels single lines of large flint nodules were placed behind the Research subsequent to the discovery of a laid tiles against the face of the cut. The walls post-medieval pottery dump and kiln in Ches• were very firmly built and evenly laid. Each tile ham, a little over two kilometres to the west rested almost directly on its fellow beneath (Cauvain 1979 and 1990), brought to light re• with only 2-3mm of clayey sand between onto ferences to potters in the Chesham registers, which it was bedded. All three principal walls including one Richard Fryar described as a were of one build. The dimensions of the tiles potter of 'Leyhill' in 1663/4. Direct evidence used in their construction were in the region of for pottery production in Leyhill itself, apart lOW (266mm) X 7" (165mm) X Vz" (14mm). from the discovery reported here, includes The natural, into which the kiln was cut, varied finds of wasters in 1966 and 1988, in the garden from pure yellow sand to sandy gravel with of the Swan, at the Old Stores, and by the occasional bands of yellowy clay. Crown (Fig. 2, 2) on the edge of the common. The material includes sherds from costrels and The bungalow footings trench cut diagonally pipkins probably of fifteenth - sixteenth-century through the western end of both kiln 1, and date (Chaffey & Wells 1989, with additional kiln 2 which was nested within it. During the comments). In the case of the discovery at the excavation, kiln 2 was intentionally not dis• Swan, Mr. Chris Barry who helped with the mantled, so the view of the western wall of kiln construction of an extension there some years previously, reported the discovery of 'an arch, 1 which had been provided by the footings very solid, built of flint, tile and brick'. He trench provided the clearest view of a kiln 1 noted, at the same location, 18" of dark soil wall uncluttered by later modification. The and 'pottery everywhere'. evenness of its construction was impressive (Fig. 4 & Plate II, left). There was no evidence of Finally the discovery in 1977 of a consider• rebuilding of any of the visible internal faces, able quantity of thirteenth to fourteenth• but the north and south faces were of course century sherds in back gardens, c. 150m to the substantially obscured by the presence of kiln west of the Joiners Close site reported here 2. (Fig. 2, 3), may hint at an earlier phase of the industry as yet unexplored. Down the centre of the kiln 1 ran a spine wall (Fig. 3, 108) which would have carried the inner springings of the atches of twin flues. The THE KILNS arches too were constructed from roof tile. The spine survived to a maximum height of 0.3m Kiln 1. The tile kiln and was keyed into the western wall (Figs. 4 The first kiln to be constructed, kiln 1, was and 5). At the base of the north and south walls rectangular, aligned roughly east-west, and were projecting angled ledges which would constructed entirely of peg-hole roof tile laid have received the ends of the missing flue fiat. A substantial part of it was below ground arches. These ledges formed an apparently level, its base being at a depth of 1.65m. It was continuous offset along much of the length of open fronted to the east with internal dimensions of 4.10m x 1.70m. the kiln, although they were only accessible in a few places. Direct evidence of the flue arches The tile walls were built directly against the was obtained a little over halfway along the kiln cut on the northern and western sides; on the at section R-T (Fig. 6 upper). Here, where the southern side, where there may have been a structure was not obscured by kiln 2- although slight construction trench collapse, there was still very difficult of access - the stubs of cross an evenly laid tile front but the tile filling be• walls were visible rising from the basal ledge hind was a little more erratic and showed signs on both north and south side. The northern 37 N \ x\-- -·------\ \ \ \ f \ z,/ ___ , \ I \ ~: I I 11211 F I \ :-. \ I \ \ I I \ I [1281 I I I I I \

A Course of builders' trench

Areas w

Presumed course of destroyed krln \ walls Truefaceandcorner D or Krln211ue ·-:::_'--•;;'-- ', Estrmated rear extent of Klint \ E

DPebblesurface Fig. 3 Plan of kiln 2 inside kiln 1

y s

107

Fig. 4 West wall of kiln 1 with stub of spine wall

38 N ------r-~1--=------"'---..------{ -=--.... -----..------"'--"" --..--~s Topsotl and Subsoil ·.·.·.·.·.·.·.-W

·-

s N vl ······················1\c="'==....c=-,-~ _:-;;j ~~=i ---' ~==J [ill] mi E, 11o61 Projected Hj\ \~;rojected ~~~ ::-:::i ~~~\

F Position of destroyed Kiln 2 arch 8 Pebble surface Yellow clay

n Flint and tne

Fig. 5 Upper: section through kiln and 2 looking east.

Lower: elevation of interior of kiln 2 looking east, showing flue arch and spine wall projected.

39 cross wall survived best (Fig. 6 lower, context the southern side of the spine wall and 131), to a height of approximately l.lOm above unacceptable demolition of the front wall of the floor level. At its base was the springing of kiln 2 would have been necessary to resolve the an arch (Fig. 6 · upper - context 153 issue. Whether the feature was a modification superimposed), whose apex would have risen to kiln 1 or part of the structure of kiln 2, there to about 0.5- 0.6m above the floor of the kiln. can have been only a short time interval The top of the cross wall, which would have between operation of the two kilns. been continuous across the kiln, was also in effect the 'floor' of the firing chamber. This Outside kiln 1, a little below ground level, height, mmrmum approximately l.lOm, there was slight evidence of a made pebble provided the only guide to the height of the path or yard running around its northern and chamber floor. southern sides.

The eastern end of the kiln, from which it Kiln 2. The Pottery Kiln was fired, was the most damaged. Here c. The firing chamber of the pottery kiln was 0.40m of the face of the southern wall had been constructed within the western half of the walls destroyed although it was preserved at its base of kiln 1, and its flue was built along the centre (Fig. 6, context 106). The overall length of kiln of the old kiln. The flue terminated at a re• 1 was established most clearly on the northern taining wall, which formed the front of the new wall, by a return angle leading to an unvitrified kiln, two thirds of the way along the length of face. Traces of the spine wall (Fig. 3, 148) also the old kiln. Several features showed that kiln extended this far, confirming its overall length. 2 had been planned with forethought to fit into the space provided by kiln 1, following demoli• The base of the kiln (Fig. 5, context 103), tion of its floor structure and flue arches. was generally of natural sand, slightly depressed in section longitudinally at the Kiln 2 was extremely well preserved. The centre, presumably owing to the intense heat. plan of the chamber was sub-square, approxi• mately 1.50m x 1.45m internally, with gently Three-quarters of the way along the kiln, elliptical sides. In section the chamber was near its eastern end, there was evidence for slightly barrel-shaped. The footings trench dug either modification of kiln 1, or, perhaps more for construction of the bungalow cut through likely, for a basal construction level for the both kiln 2 and its predecessor, and it was from front of kiln 2. This feature consisted of a the footings trench that the section showing the pitched tile surface (143) set on a course of flat relationship between the two kilns most clearly tiles (145), which in turn rested on the was drawn (Fig. 5, upper). hollowed floor of kiln 1. This construction shows a finished face towards the stoking area The main single-arched flue from kiln 2 and itself was butted against the spine wall of survived as a void along its 1.20m length, kiln 1 (plate V, bottom). The whole could terminating in a retaining wall. At this point represent a shortening of kiln 1, but if this part of the flue arch had collapsed forward. interpretation were correct it would call for a The kiln chamber itself was densely filled with raised floor level within the kiln as a whole pottery. which was not present. It seems more likely that this feature represented the basal level of At the base of the kiln 2 firing chamber was a construction for the new front of kiln 2 central spine wall from which one surviving from which it would have projected by flue arch sprang to the northern wall. There about 0.35m. It is not known whether was clear evidence for three others on the same a similar construction was present on side, showing as tile springers from the 40 s N IT _,c-="

; ...... ------...... , / ' ' ' I / ' \ I \ I \ : f.j52\ \ '---L~~--.J

s N p

Springers with projected arc B&C of Kiln 1 arches G&H Projected line of Kiln 1 face

Projected flue interior Flint and tile rubble'\walling

Fig. 6 Upper; section through kiln 1 and flue of kiln 2 looking west.

Lower; elevation showing walls of kiln 1, levelling for new front of kiln 2 (143/145), and kiln 2 flue set in new front wall. 41 chamber wall. Three similar settings were evi• was constructed of a radiating fan of roof tiles. dent on the southern chamber wall, the fourth At the eastern end, although some collapse having been cut away by the footings trench. had occurred, the lower part of the intact arch, The sub-floor structure then consisted of eight face was just visible. The infill above the arch arches, four on either side of the central spine and between the chamber wall and the kiln wall. It was striking that the spine wall of the front, consisted principally of large flint pottery kiln clearly utilised the spine wall of the nodules, such as were also used behind the preceding kiln 1 in its make up, a fact evident upper infill in the walls of kiln 1. both in plan, and in sectional view (Fig. 5 upper, 151 on 104). In contrast to its internal structure, the eastern face of kiln 2 at the stoke pit end was The sub-floor kiln arches were constructed constructed fairly roughly and had distorted entirely of tile, the arch being a gently de• outwards through pressure from behind. What pressed curve 0.20m high. The basal floor of is presumed to be the initial levelling of tiles the firing chamber consisted of small fragments (Fig. 6, 143 and 145), discussed earlier, pre• of burnt tile, as did that of kiln 1. The floor ceded construction of the flue arch itself and level of the pottery kiln had been raised c. 0.16m was then followed by construction of the facing above that of its predecessor. The chamber wall (130) built largely of large flint nodules, floor, on which the pottery would have rested with the occasional brick and patches of during firing, would have been a little over roughly coursed tile at its upper levels (Fig. 6 0.40m above the base of the kiln, judging from lower). Behind this, on top of the flue arch and the highest point of the four flat tiles which behind the firing chamber wall was a fill con• capped the arches (Fig. 5 upper, 115). The sisting of yellow sand at its upper level and, at structure of the chamber differed slightly from its lower levels resting on the flue arch, of that of the preceding tile kiln in that it utilised much over-fired tile, some of it stacked, over• some brick, of dimensions 8%"-9" (222/228mm) fired on one face and presumably deriving from X 4W-45/s" (114/120mm) x 2" (50mm). The the earlier structure kiln 1, together \Vith large base of the kiln, including the flue arches, was flint nodules, and a little pottery. built entirely of tile, but above this level it was predominantly of brick laid as stretchers one Both kiln 1 and kiln 2 shared the same deep with occasional string courses of tile (Plate stokehole area, but the full extent of this was III, top). There was no indication that two not determined during the excavation although phases of build were involved however. its depth was established. It would have un• doubtedly been a substantial hole and, The flue arch at the chamber end was allowing for stacking of the wood with which elegantly constructed of tile in a broad, slightly both kilns can be presumed to be fired, and for depressed arch, with a width at floor level of sufficient room to rake out ash, would prob• 0.80 m and a height of 0.35 m (Plate IV top). ably have extended at least three metres to the The spine wall that carried the flue arches east from the front of the kiln. A ladder or extended to within O.lOm of its mouth. similar structure would probably have been necessary for access to the stoke pit since it was The main flue, as has been mentioned, re• 1.70m deep and the rather gravelly subsoil would not have permitted the cutting of stable mained as a void for a distance of 1.20m to the steps. east and was intact, although largely concealed beneath backfill. The latter was only partially The upper fill of the stoke pit down to 0.84m removed for fear of causing it to collapse in• below ground level consisted of layers of clayey wards. Sufficient could be seen from above loam with chalk, flint, pottery, tile and however, to confirm that the whole of the flue charcoal, which probably represented decay of 42 the structure and deliberate backfill. Below five of these were from lower down the wall, this was a sandy clay layer (126) containing and some were taken from the relatively soft some tile which probably represented erosion clay between the tiles. In order to compensate of the stoke pit sides and initial decay of the for magnetic distortions, the samples were well structure. Below this at a depth of 1.42m was a distributed around the available north, east layer of clayey loam containing pottery, tile, and south sides of the kilns. North orientation charcoal and much ash (128) which represent was by theodolite with gyro attachment. the last phase of use of kiln 2. The partially collapsed front of the flue arch rested upon this Initial measurements produced reasonably layer, the contents of which, with 140 below, coherent mean magnetic directions from the include the most reliable evidence for the pro• two sets of samples. Alternating field (AF) ducts actually produced on the-site. demagnetisation tests indicated that the sam• ples were magnetically stable, and, as a result Relationship between the kilns of these tests, viscous components were re• It has been demonstrated that there can have moved in a peak field of 7. 5 millitesla. The been only a brief interval between the disuse results were as follows: of kiln 1 and the construction of kiln 2. The Phase I void was clearly available, and kiln 2 utilised the spine wall of kiln 1, itself a relatively Dec= 8.9°E; Inc= 64.2°; alpha-95 = 3.4° insubstantial structure and which would only have been of relevance to someone well aware Phase 2 of the structure and function of the tile kiln. Substantial demolition of kiln 1 was however Dec= 6.6°E; Inc= 65.9°; alpha-95 = 4.1° necessary; its internal arches for instance were removed. But the whole process was well Although the central values of these two thought out. Little of the demolition material results are separated by about 30 years, this was left in the cavity and it was necessary to cannot be used as an indication of their true raise the new floor level by only 0.16m. In separation in time because of the large statis• several instances sand seems to have been used tical overlap between the results. Combining to provide the necessary infill. There is fairly all of the 24 measurements for Phases 1 and 2 good evidence that the above-ground walls of considerably increases the precision of the de• kiln 1 were demolished at the same time, since termination, giving the following final result: the infill between the firing chamber of kiln 2 Measurement reference No. AJC-6 and its front retaining wall clearly over-sailed the top of the demolished southern wall (106) Dec = 7.8°E; Inc= 65.1°; alpha-95 = 2.SO of kiln 1. The stokehole also clearly continued This indicates that the final firing of the two in use. However, the new front wall advanced kilns took place within the date bracket of cal. into the chamber of the old kiln. The backfill AD 1460-1510 at the 68% confidence level. of the stoke pit which was examined was evidently largely that of the kiln 2 phase, since (Background notes on this report are filed the stoke pit of kiln 1 would clearly have lain with the archive.) farther to the east. The Kiln Structures and Comparisons Archaeomagnetic Dating by A.J. Clark The tile kiln Using the disc method (Clark et al., 1988) The overall dimensions of the tile kiln twelve samples were taken from each of the correspond reasonably well with previously re• structures, in case it might prove possible to corded twin-arched rectangular kilns of the date the phases separately. The samples from medieval period, for example Shouldham, phase 1 were taken from in situ tiles at or near Norfolk (Smallwood 1978) and Lyveden, the surviving top of the truncated structure. Northants (Steane et al. 1975), although the Similar samples were taken from phase 2, but structure of the latter is slightly different in that 43 a continuous twin arched tunnel leads into the FINDS main chambers. Where Leyhill does vary from The Tile and Brick the norm is in its depth below ground level During the excavation, 880 fragments of tile which at 1.65m to its base, is set at least half a and brick, weighing 45.52kg, were recovered. metre deeper than most. Reducing the amount No attempt at total recovery was made, but the of structure above ground may have reduced proportions were as follows: peg-hole tile 855 maintenance costs. From modern examples it (39.09 kg), ridge tile 6 (2.15 kg), floor tile 2 is known that such kilns did not have perma• (0.70 kg), brick 17 (3.57 kg). nent roofs and that loading took place from a side entrance or 'wicket', from the front, and All of this material came from secondary possibly also eventually from above. contexts, some of it certainly deriving from the structure of the kilns themselves. It is therefore In general the internal arch structures of difficult to be clear as to the character of the kilns survive infrequently, but at Lyveden products of the tile kiln phase, although the where the whole of the interior was con• proportions noted above may provide a rough structed of tile against a backing of stone, the guide. The presence of only two pieces of floor arches were about 0.45m high and the floor of tile, neither of which were decorated, shows the firing chamber above, about 0.65m above that floor tiles were a product of little signific• the base of the kiln. This would match fairly ance to the industry, in contrast to the other closely the projected height of the Leyhill known Buckinghamshire kiln sites such as floor. This being the case the chamber floor Penn and Little Brickhill. The bricks are would have been approximately one metre thought to derive from the structure of kiln 2. below ground level, which would have made stacking the kiln from a wicket a relatively Although no calculation has been made of comfortable performance. the potential capacity of the tile kiln, it is of The spacing between transverse arches at interest to note that at least 2,600 peg-hole tiles survive within the remaining three wall Leyhill is unknown; however better preserved fragments of the structure itself. sub-floor structures such as at Glory Farm, Penn, Bucks (Chenevix Trench 1977), and Fabric Lyveden, indicate that a narrow gap of only c.0.10-0.15m between arches would be normal Characterisation of tile and brick fabrics was and there could therefore have been as many based on macroscopic examination of inclu• as thirteen transverse arches at Leyhill. sions present, hardness of the material and, to a lesser degree, colour. The Munsell numbers cited in brackets below relate to the 1975 The pottery kiln edition. The tile fabric is generally reddish The sub-square single flue form of the Ley• hill pottery kiln is something of an oddity, yellow (5YR 6/6- 6/8), hard and rough to the touch. The brick fabric is friable, can be however a local parallel to the chamber form is known from Brill (Farley 1979, 131), a kiln marked with a fingernail, and tends to be red• der than the tile (2.5YR 6/8 - 5/8). A pet• constructed perhaps a little later than that at rological report follows. Leyhill and apparently made completely of brick. The floor tile has a fabric similar to that of The plan form is a clear break with the brick, but is more compact in structure, and is earlier medieval tradition of the region, where very hard. circular ovens, with single or twin flues were the norm. The only other occurrence of brick The Peg Tiles noted in a Buckinghamshire medieval kiln is at Although it was not possible to reconstruct a Brill, where a fourteenth-century oval double• complete tile from the material retrieved, flue kiln is reported to have had a flue arch measurements taken from in-situ examples and constructed 'of specially shaped bricks 1%" loose fragments, were sufficient to calculate thick' (Jope 1953, 40). the tile dimensions in use: 101f2'' (266mm) x 7"

44 (165mm) x 1!2'' (14mm). The 'official' tile minimum of 125 vessels and 4 saggars, based dimensions stipulated by the 1477 statute, thus on rim equivalent percentages calculated for broadly contemporary with the life of the kiln, each rim. The range of forms produced at Ley• specify the following dimensions: 101!2'' hill, and their relative quantities, is sum• (266mm) x 6 1/5" (158mm) x 3/5" (l6mm). marised in Fig.7

The tiles were produced in a mould, which The products are wheel-thrown, with the had been sanded to prevent the added clay exception of the hand-built rectilinear/ovoid from sticking. The upper surfaces of the tiles dripping dish (Fig.lO, 43), the rim of which is were smooth, whereas the reverse is sanded in irregularly formed and the wall externally knife each case. Circular peg-holes were pierced trimmed. from the upper surface while the clay was still wet, judging from the displacement of the clay. A range of brown and green glazes occurred None of the tile was deliberately glazed, the on jars, dishes and some jugs. The condition of occasional 'glazed' surface being incidental to the glaze after firing, and the extent of their use as kiln furniture, or as part of the coverage, was poor, often making it difficult to structure. distinguish between intentional applications and accidental spotting or dripping. The prop• The Ridge Tiles ortion of glazed to plain vessels could not be No complete dimensions survive. They too reliably calculated. In contrast, good results appear to have been shaped in a flat mould, but were achieved in the glazing of the fine-wares, were subsequently left to dry across a curved such as cups and small jugs (Fig.ll, 48-53), surface. The sanded reverse side, terminating with even, fine quality glazes produced. The in a slightly raised edge, shows signs of folding. small amount of fine ware present is matched The upper surface was smooth and unglazed. by the sparsity of saggars within which they None were crested. were presumably fired. Saggars from this kiln are the earliest known from Buckinghamshire. The Floor Tile No slipped wares were noted. A limited No complete dimensions survive, but the number of other decorative techniques were thickness of both pieces was 9/10" (25mm), employed: of the jars, 8 sherds (1.5 vessels) and both had chamfered sides. The upper were adorned with a thumbed strip of clay surface was smooth, and traces of a dusky red applied horizontally around the neck of the glaze (lOR 3/4) remain on it. The reverse was vessel (Fig.8, 12, 13). Two jug sherds (47% of rough, but not sanded. one vessel) were decorated similarly. A single thumbed disc, probably deriving from the body The Brick of a jar, was recovered (Fig. 8, 21). A circular The only complete bricks present were those gridded stamp decoration occurs once only, on in situ in the wall of kiln 2. These measured a whistle (Fig.11, 55). 8¥4" to 9"(222/228mm) x 4W' to 4W' (114/ 170mm) x 2" (50mm). Fabric Both sand and clay have been extracted The Pottery within a radius of a few hundred metres of the A total of 4,499 (177 .5 kg) sherds was re• kilns, and gravel and sand were observed on covered, a small number of which (123, 4.9 kg) the site itself, so the local, superficial geology predated the building of the pottery kiln (con• overlying the chalk is complex. There is no text 125). The majority of sherds were re• reason to suspect that the clay utilised at the covered from the fill of kiln 2 (context 114). Of site was other than local, but no natural clay the total number, 26.42% (I ,189) were att• occurred on the site itself. ributable to a particular form. The remaining sherds consisted of body shcrds, bases, handles The sherds presented a variety of colours and some rims/lids which could not be securely from red to grey. The fabric was hard. sandy, identified. The attributed sherds represent a rough to the touch, and could not be marked 45 % 40 .., ~ 0 r---- 0 37.6 ~ a: ..,<(

30 -31.2

z 20 S2 a. (/) ~ w () en :r 1- z (/) w 0 (/) a: 0 ~ ti:i ..J ..J ..J :J :1: ..J (/) 0 S2 10 (/) (/) ~ :iE en ~ lXI a: a: z w 0 <( a: a: u. 8.15 r--- w 1- Cl 7.22 7.1 1- (/) w Cl (/) 0 z <( 0 () u:: (/) 3.16 1.7 I 1.51 I 2 I I FORMS Fig 7 Leyhill: relative percentage of forms presen,. by fingernail. Only one fabric was noted, the A somewhat laminated but fairly clean clay principle inclusion being quartz sand. matrix containing a moderate groundmass of silt-sized quartz grains and small flecks of mica. Four sherds of pottery and two of tile were Also present is a sparse to moderate scatter of kindly examined by Dr. D.F. Williams who larger subangular quartz grains ranging up to writes as follows: 0.7mm across in size, some finer-textured clay pellets, other argillaceous material, quartzite, Petrology iron oxide, flint and a little organic material. A Note by D. F. Williams, PhD., FSA, (HBMC Ceramic Petrology Project) Depart• Pottery Sherds ment of Archaeology, University of (3) Base sherd Southampton (4) Base sherd (5) Decorated shoulder sherd Two samples of roofing tile and four samples of pottery, all from the later medieval kilns Frequent sub-angular quartz grains, from discovered at Leyhill, were submitted for a silt-size up to 0.80mm across but with the maj• fabric examination in thin section under the ority below 0.30mm. Together with moderate petrological microscope. In addition, a sample to frequent flecks of mica, mostly muscovite of the clay found at the site and thought to but with some biotite, a scatter of small pieces have been utilized for the products of the kilns of flint, quartzite, iron oxide, the odd small was examined for comparative purposes. grain of plagioclase felspar and a little argillaceous material. Roofing Tile (1) Roof tile (6) Sherds from lower section of vessel (2) Roof tile A similar range of non-plastic inclusions to

46 r: ~-~ .J 8 ' ~"ci.· 2 \~~· ...... ~ -T~\ ',J 3 ' rT~~~ <~. 4 14 . - r~u F-~ I 5 ' _, - ~ 6 ' I -7'

, -~--~------···------~-- .. ~7 f~ ~ - ·- . ·····~

1 8 ~-\

Fig. 8 Leyhill: Jugs (1-9), Cooking Pots/Jars (10--21) (1/4 scale).

47 ··~··· .---~- ~-----~-~·---o---=--:.:.-- ==-·.::~~-~.... ~_------. ,--

" 23 ~cc .~ ·~ .• 22 >

,-==,.==2~6 ~~~ ~~=0::_;;;::_ 7)

I ~ 281- -j 29 ] 7' 31

Fig. 9 Leyhill: Pipkin/Cauldrons (22-25), Bowls/Dishes (26---33) (1/4 scale).

48 35

36 31 I _.,_ ls7"'=#'-y~-·- ~/~·~

{, 44

I . A ;_.:' ' I 41 '

Fig. 10 Ley hill: Bowls/Dishes (34-37), Miscellaneous (38-47) (114 seale).

49 g-- 48 -- ,, ' ,,-=s---49 ~": \b:i 53 t 50

Fig. 11 Leyhill: Fine Vessels (48-53), Saggars (54), ?Whistle (55) (114 scale). nos. (3)-(5), but somewhat finer-textured and those noted above in the tile and pottery from with a fairly clean clay matrix. Also present is a Leyhill, making fabric differentiation of pro• large [over 3.5mm across] fragment of iron-rich ducts from these kilns potentially difficult ( cf. argillaceous material, possibly a piece of Farley, 1979; Farley and Leach, 1988). ironstone. Five sherds from the site were also subjected Conclusions to chemical analysis: All the above samples contain much the same range of non-plastic inclusions and com• Chemical analysis of the pottery pare favourably with the local clay sample. by S. P. Cauvain However, the fabric of the two tiles appears to One unglazed strap handle, one base sherd have received less preparation than the pottery and four unglazed body sherds were chosen to sherds: indicated by the streaky, laminated represent the typical fabric group and sub• clay matrix, and the greater frequency of jected to chemical analysis using atomic natural clay pellets; while the pottery samples absorption spectroscopy. contain more quartz grains than the tiles, pos• sibly by way of added temper. About lOg of each sherd were ground by hand to a fine powder, of which 10 and 15mg Previous petrological work on pottery 'was• were heated with lithium metaborate in a ters', from medieval and post-medieval kilns in furnace. The fused mixture was dissolved in the western Chilterns region, shows more or nitric acid. The oxide concentrations in each less the same range of non-plastic inclusions as sample were measured five times to give a

50 mean value for each sample. for production, although its petrological characteristics are the same as the ceramic. The following results were obtained: Sh ·d I Iron Aluminium Calcium Magnesium Sodium Potassium Roger Little also refired some of the sherds ei FeO AIO CaO MgO NaO KO from the site, and found a temperature of Handle 4.42 5.84 0.65 1.24 0.22 2.41 930-950°C provided the best fit for their pro• Base 4.83 9.78 · 0.13 1.30 0.19 2.56 duction temperature. Refiring also demon• Body 4.42 14.81) 0.25 1.12 0.19 2.19 strated that some poor quality finishes noted Body 5.31 7.27 1.15 1.40 0.23 2.61 during sorting of the pottery were simply un• Body 5.96 10.93 0.27 1.77 0.12 3.37 fluxed glaze. Refiring to 1000°C removed the Body 4.63 8.11 0.27 1.18 0.17 2.24 green tinge often present on this material and Mean 4.93 8.88 0.45 1.34 0.21 2.59 produced a transparent slightly speckled honey glaze. The small number of samples and the spread of the data for a given oxide prevent composi• Pottery Forms tional comparisons being made between the Approximately 9 different forms were re• three types of sherds. The pottery from this covered. Their relative quantities are sum• kiln has a much higher magnesium oxide con• marised in Fig.7 centration than observed for several other medieval kilns in south Buckinghamshire Jugs ( Cauvain, unpublished observations). (Fig.8) At least 37.6% of the estimated total A layer of clay was recorded within the number of vessels have been identified as jugs. backfill of the stoke pit. On the presumption The range of rim forms is small, the most fre• that this might bear some relationship to the quently produced (56.7%) being the simple original material, two kilos of the sample were upright rim with external, horizontal ridge passed to Mr. R.I. Little of Boscastle Pottery, (Fig. 8, 4, 5). Comparable forms have been dated elsewhere to the late Medffudor period Cornwall. (Mayes 1984, Fig. 75, 333.0.110; Jennings The comments which follow are based on 1981, Fig. 45, 734 & Fig. 52, 862; Farley 1988, information kindly provided by him: Fig. 7, 11; Moorhouse 1971, Fig. 1, 26; Hassall 1984, Fig. 15, 2&3). A deliberate glaze was The sample was processed by drying and only identified occasionally. Where present it breaking up by hand and the larger inclusions tended to be light green in colour and poor in were removed. It was then allowed to soak for terms of vessel coverage. 48 hours which allowed most medium and finer inclusions to precipitate. The resultant slurry It was not generally possible to match bases was left for a further 36 hours and then hand with vessel forms, but the occasional relation• wedged to potting consistency. Sample jugs ship seems likely: for example a single base and tiles were then produced; however the sherd, decorated with thumb/finger impres• potting characteristics of this clay were found sions around its basal angle (Fig. 8, 2), prob• to be totally unsuitable for producting pottery. ably belonged to a jug (e.g. Jennings 1981, Fig. The body was too coarse, there was little 23, 393). Spouts were simply pulled from the plasticity and it was very friable prior to firing. rim. The strap handles were pulled, with single Tiles had a tendency to crack during drying. or double grooves/ridges running centrally Both jugs and tiles were fired in an oxidising down the upper surface. None were slashed, atmosphere to 10000C. stabbed or thumbed, and no other decoration was identified. Handles were simply luted onto The result of this work clearly demonstrated the vessel, the lower handle attachment often that the only deposit of clay found on site secured from the outside by thumb or finger during the excavation, namely that derived (Fig.8, 7), with a finger print frequently left from the backfill, was not the same as that used behind. 51 Cooking Pots/Jars (Fig. 8) Bowls/Dishes (Fig.s 9 & 10) Cooking pots and jars were well represen• Since it rarely proved possible to distinguish ted, accounting for 31.2% of the estimated between bowls and dishes on the basis of rim total number of vessels, 65% of which were lid alone, they have been included in a single seated forms. No lids have, however, been category. At least 9 bowls/dishes were identified. The remaining forms commonly had identified accounting for 7.6% of the total short, upright necks (Fig. 8, 11-16), the rims number of vessels recovered. often occurring with an external horizontal ridge or groove (Fig. 8, 13, 14). The dominant form (45.48% of bowls and dishes) has a slightly thickened rim, with a Decorative thumbed strips around the neck single external horizontal groove (Fig. 9, 33). of the vessel was present on 3.7% of cooking Comparable forms from other published sites pots/jars, and a single thumbed 'rosette' (Fig. 8, have been dated to the Late Med/Tudor period 21) may have originally been attached to the (Farley 1979, Fig. 11, 6; Yeoman 1988, Fig. 10, shoulder of a jar (Mayes 1984, Fig. 59, 492- 4, 9). The upright rim, with horizontal external 494). A patchy covering of green glaze was ridge or thickening, and the everted, down• occasionally present across some rims, but it turned rim types (Fig.10, 34, 36), have been was not possible to estimate the number of similarly dated (Jennings 1981, Fig. 17, 318, glazed vessels in this category, nor to make an Fig. 60, 1031; Fig. 3, 62, 78; Freke 1979, Fig. attempt to isolate jar and cooking pot forms on 12; Farley 1979, Fig. 11, 8). the basis of glazed rims. A pale green glaze occurred occasionally on Pipkins & Cauldrons (Fig.s 9 & 10) the interior surface of vessels. Where present Only 2 sherds, 29%, of a pipkin were (Fig. 9, 26, 30, Fig. 10, 34) its coverage and identified (Fig. 9, 22). In contrast, the presence condition were poor. Shallow parallel grooves of at least 9 cauldrons was recorded, were present on the exterior surface of some amounting to 7% of the total number of ves• deeper forms (Fig. 9, 26, 27). Apart from this sels. Despite similarities to the pipkin in form, no other decorative techniques were noted. with the wide everted rim and distinct internal angle, cauldrons have a considerably greater Chafing Dishes (Fig.10, 38-40) rim diameter (approx. 30cm) and body depth This form is poorly represented at Leyhill. (Fig. 9, 23, 24). An ovoid strap handle was Only 72% of a single vessel was retrieved attached to one vessel at the neck. Evidence (0.55% of the total number of vessels), with was insufficient to determine whether two a triangular rim (Fig. 10, 38, 39) to which small handles may have been originally present ( cf vertical lugs have been applied. The form is Jennings 1981, Fig. 28, 473; Fig. 25- of Late known from 15th/16th century contexts in Bed• Med/Tudor date). ford (cf Baker 1974, Fig. 8, 89; Baker 1979, Fig. 131, 803). The lugs were secured to the The vessels were frequently glazed inside, as rim with single or, more decoratively, triple indicated by the presence of an unfluxed glaze finger impressions. The vessel tends to be thin• (see comments by R. Little, above) on the walled and was presumably supported by a inner surface of many sherds. The only fea• pedestal base (Fig. 10, 40). The interior was tures present on cauldrons which might be de• well covered with an unusually good green corative in character were shallow single or glaze. double horizontal grooves on the body of the vessels (Fig. 9, 23). Dripping Dishes/Skillets and Saucepan(?) (Fig.10, 41-44) A single spout was recovered, simply pulled Two certain dripping dishes/skillets and one from the rim. Bases were not found in direct saucepan(?) were recovered, accounting for association with either form, but tripod feet 1.29% of the total number of vessels. Two types (Fig. 9, 25) may well have been used (cf Jen• of dripping dish/skillet were present, both nings 1981, Fig. 25, 429 & 432). shallow with a flat base and short handle rising, 52 almost vertically, from the top of the rim. The Baker 1979, Fig. 125, 712; Mayes 1966, Fig. 7 rim was either thickened (Fig. 10, 41, 42), or & 15; Yeoman 1988, Fig. 6). The small number in-turned giving a hooked appearance (Fig. 10, of delicate glazed loop handles were circular in 43). The latter was associated with the hand section with an average thickness of lcm. The built straight-sided vessel, irregularly formed sherds were coated, inside and out, with a good and externally knife-trimmed. The 'saucepan' quality black (Fig. 11, 49, 52) or green (Fig. is a smaller vessel with a diameter of approx. 11, 48, 50, 51) glaze. 12cm, and a plain incurving rim. A short rod handle rises from the body of the vessel The four saggars retrieved (whose use in the immediately below the rim, secured with a firing of fine vessels has been discussed above), single finger impression (Fig. 10, 44). A patchy were of a single type: straight walled, slightly green or brown glaze was applied to the interior ridged inside and out, with a plain thickened surface of each type. No other form of lip. Their fabric was characteristically reduced. decoration is present. Vents were circular, pushed through from the inside and left rough. Their narrow diameter Bunghole Cisterns (Fig.10, 45) well suited that of the fine vessels. At least 9 bunghole cisterns have been identified at Leyhill (calculated from the per• Whistle (Fig. 11, no.55) centage of base present), accounting for 7.1% One piece has been tentatively identified as a of the estimated total number of vessels. Un• whistle, probably designed along the lines of fortunately none were associated with rims. the small 14/15th century bird whistles (Hurst Bases were flat and slightly concave towards 1986, Fig. 64), but differing considerably in their centre. The circular bunghole, situated size and shape. The spout, for example, rises towards the base of the vessel, was pushed from the side of a conical body, not from the through from inside, leaving a raised lip on the centre of a creature's back (ibid). Its body was vessel's exterior, the edge of which was knife wheel-thrown, with a smaller bulbous ex• trimmed. The cisterns produced at Leyhill tension on top. The bulb was pierced with an appear to have been fairly uniform in size and ovoid hole at the side, around which a scar shape. indicates the loss of an additional, protruding feature. Another fixture, rising from the A large number of distorted waster cisterns opening at the top of the bulb, has also been were recovered, for which the percentage of lost. A fine green glaze covers its undamaged vessel present could not be calculated. surfaces. The angle of wall and base is decorated with short, regularly spaced incised Costrels (Fig. 10, 46, 47) slashes. Two costrels (1.7% of the total number of vessels) were present. Handles were angular or The character of its original form could not rounded pierced lugs (Fig. 10, 46, 47) attached be identified, but the remains of two ?arm-like to a short, narrow neck. From surviving attachments, positioned at either side of the fragments, it was not possible to reconstruct body, and the application of a circular gridded the vessel's overall shape, but a hemispherical stamp decoration to the spout side of the body seems likely. They had an even coverage object only, suggests some kind of animal was of thick mottled green or brown glaze. portrayed.

Fine Vessels and Saggars (Fig. 11, 48-54) Dating and Conclusions At least four fine, thin-walled cups/mugs, or Archaeomagnetic dates place the last firing possibly small jugs, were present (2% of the at Leyhill 'within the date bracket of cal. total number of vessels). Simple upright rims 1460-1510 at 68% confidence level'. (Fig. 11, 48, 49), slightly flaring (Fig. 11, 53) Comparable published material suggests this or inwardly curving (Fig. 11, 50), were date to be acceptable. The lifespan of the tile produced, probably associated with the small kiln, with its occasional ceramic production, glazed bases and loop handles (Fig. 11, 51, 52 cannot be easily estimated. However, there 53 was no noticeable difference in the relative partial cover. Thumb/fingerprint. 114, 122, quantities of the products recovered from ea~h 124, 125, 126, 128 kiln structure, and the character of the matenal 14. Vertical-necked jar with ?hemispherical from each context was similar. body. Mottled green glaze outside, partial cover. 100,114,120,121,122,124,126,128 Jugs and cooking-pots/jars account for more 15. Subangular rim. 121 16. Short concave rim. Mottled brown/green than half the vessels recovered, with relatively glaze in and out, partial cover. 100 small proportions of other forms present (Fig. 17-20. Lid-seated jars. Brown/green glaze in/out 7). A short period of time may have elapsed (nos 16 & 19) 100, 114, 120, 121, 122, 124, between the end of the tile kiln, in which 125, 126, 128, 140 ceramic material was also fired (125), and its 21. Thumbed disc of clay, probably belonging to reconstruction as a pottery kiln. The continuity body of a jar. 128 within the assembiage suggests that ceramic production remained in the hands of the same Fig. 9: Pipkin, Cauldrons & Bowls/ Dishes potter/s, whose craft began as a by-product to a 22. Pipkin. Flared rim. Brown/green glaze, partial cover. 124 tile industry. 23-24. Cauldron. Sharply flared rim. Sulphurous yellow inside. 100, 114, 120, 121, 122, 124, Catalogue 125, 126, 140 Fig. 7 summarises the range of products retrieved 25. Tripod feet, possibly belonging to cauldron. from kilns 1 & 2. The following catalogue is 126 arranged according to vessel type and includes a 26. Everted rim, lid-seated. Light green/ brief description of each illustrated form, comments sulphurous yellow inside. 124 on sherds where detail may not be evident from the 27-28. Flanged rim, in-turned at lip. 114, 125, 126 illustration, and a list of context numbers in which 29. Incurved T-rim. 120 the form was found. 30. Simple, everted rim. Light green/yellow glaze inside. 126 The nature of the contexts in which ceramic was 31. Flared rim. 100, 114, 121, 122, 124, 125, 126, found can be summarized: 128, 140 125 - kiln 2, structural 32-33. Widely flaring, moulded rim. 100, 114, 120, 128, 140- deposits contemporary with the kiln 2 121, 122, 124, 125, 126, 128, 140 structure 100, 114, 120--124, 126 - dump deposits, post• Fig. 10: Bowls/ Dishes & Miscellaneous dating kiln 2 34. Heavy overhang. Light green glaze inside, partial cover. 114, 120, 122, 124, 126 Fig. 8: Jugs & Cooking-Pots/Jars 35. Horizontal rim, slightly undercut. 120, 122, 1. Flared rim 100, 120, 122, 114 126 2. Base. Green glaze inside, partial cover. 36. Overhanging sub-rectangular rim. 100, 121, Thumb/finger print. 124 122, 124, 125, 126, 128 3. Simple, outwardly thickened rim. 114, 121, 37. Horizontal rim with heavy rounded over• 122, 124, 126 hang. 128 4-5. External, horizontal thickening/ridge. Mis• 38-40. Chafing dish with offset triangular rim. Light cellaneous brown glaze outside, partial cover green glaze inside, good cover. Pedestal or accidental dripping. Thumb/finger print. base. 114, 126 114, 120, 121, 122, 124, 125, 126, 128, 140 41-42. Skillet with incurved rim. Light green glaze 6--7. Small jug. Light green glaze around base inside. 124, 126 outside, partial cover. 100, 114, 120, 124, 43. Dripping dish with upturned, hooked rim. 125, 126 114, 121, 124, 125, 126, 128 8. Globular jug with vertical rim. Dark green 44. Saucepan? Simple incurved rim. Light green glaze, good cover. 124 glaze inside. 100, 114 9. Bevelled and in-turned at lip. 100, 114, 124, 45. Bunghole cistern. Transparent glaze outside, 126 ?accidental drips. 114, 121, 124, 125, 126, 128 10. Simple, incurving rim with external ridge. 46-47. Costrels. Dark green glaze outside. 114, 124, 114, 124 126, 128 11-13. Short necked jar with outwardly thickened, or ridged, rim. Light green glaze outside, 54 Fig. 11: Fine Vessels & Miscellaneous Discussion 48-49. Simple upright rim. Green (48) or black (49) glaze in and out, good cover. 114, 120, 121, Although there are hints of an earlier pot• 122, 124, 126 tery industry at Leyhill, these kilns provide the 50. Light green glaze in and out, good cover. first confirmation of the existence of a late 100, 122, 126, 128 medieval tile and pottery industry. There are 51-52. Flat base with projecting toe. Green/yellow in and out (51), partial cover; black glaze in indications that it may have been quite exten• and out (52), good cover. 114, 128 sive although certainly less intensive than at 53. Outcurved rim. Light green glaze in and out, other Buckinghamshire clay industry centres good cover. 114, 124 such as Brill/Boarstall or Penn. The apparent 54. Saggar. Vertical wall, thickened at lip. lack of relevant documentary evidence should Thumb/fingerprint. 114, 120, 122, 123, 126, by now come as little surprise, since within the 128, 140 Chilterns the discovery of undocumented pro• 55. Whistle. Dark green glaze. String cutting duction centres, such as the medieval pottery marks on underside of base. 126 industry at Denham (Farley & Leach 1988), is becoming common. Chance often plays a large Other Finds part in bringing such local industries to light. The Charcoal Attempts to identify a definite pattern of pro• duction and distribution of pottery will always Both kilns can be presumed to be wood be hampered by the superficial geology of the fired. Two small charcoal samples were taken Chilterns since potters over a wide area from the deposits of kiln 2 for further ex• tempered their wares with quartz sand and amination: one weighing 20g was removed little else. It is to be hoped that the more from a deposit contemporary with the kiln 2 widespread 'finger printing' of source clays, by structure (140), the other weighing 600g was recovered from the fill material (124). A methods such as atomic absorption spect• roscopy, will eventually assist in producing a sample of ash (325g), presumably wood ash pattern. was also recovered. Th~ charcoal was kindly examined by Anne Miles who reports as follows: The production centre at Leyhill is of particular interest in that it demonstrates, in a Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) -no curvature 32} most direct manner, the close integration bet• -slight curvature 2~ 55 ween clay industries, in this case between pot• -outer of 2" rad. branch tery and rooftile production. The insertion of a Oak (Quercus sp.) -no curvature 7 pottery kiln into a tile kiln, utilising some of Beech (Fagus sylvatica) - no curvature -slight curvature n7 the former's physical features, along with evi• Hazel (Cory Ius ave !lana) -twig l!l-W diameters 9 dence for earlier pottery production suggests Elm (Ulmussp.) -no curvature 2 that the same hands may have lain behind both processes. Although there are plenty of earlier 'The comments on curvature relate to medieval sites where the two processes did growth rings. However, where no curvature is maintain distinct locations, integration seems noticed on small samples it does not necessarily to become an increasingly common mean it comes from the outer part of the tree. ' phenomenon by the fifteenth century. Locally it can be seen at Brill during this period Miscellaneous (Yeoman 1988) and probably also at Penn Other finds retrieved from the fill of kiln 2 (Hutchings and Farley 1989). This may have include: a single stem of clay pipe presumably intrusive; three tiny fragments of a copper something to do with the greater investment alloy strip; and one piece of struck flint (rough involved in the structures of the later medieval waste), and five oyster shells, weighing 50g. and post-medieval industry, but also with a Fifteen fragments of animal bone, weighing closer integration within developing village 450g were also recovered from the fill of kiln 2. communities. 55 It is of some interest that although tile kilns cian Ware', was following a tradition de• are frequently associated in the mind with pro• veloped elsewhere. The convenience of using duction of decorated floor tiles, this was clearly purpose-made saggars in the production of not the case with the late medieval kiln at such forms was obviously also appreciated, Leyhill. Although the production of roof tile at although the Leyhill examples appear to be the the site is unexceptional, the inclusion of bricks earliest recorded occurrence in Bucking• in the structure of kiln 2 hints that these were hamshire. The appearance of small glazed also a component of the local industry, tablewares seems to coincide everywhere with although of course bricks would have been the introduction of saggars. Otherwise, the produced in ground level clamps not kilns. Leyhill products were forms whose precursors Lying near the Buckinghamshire/Hertfordshire are clear and which with little change were to border, locally manufactured bricks could have form the staple of country potteries into the been supplied from here to either county. The nineteenth century. One's view of the products principal building of brick in the locality is of any kiln always has to be tempered with Chenies Manor, constructed rather later than the caveat that a proportion of the pottery the kiln's use, perhaps in the 1530s (Wright found during excavation at the site may have 1972, 231). However, by the mid fifteenth cen• been made in adjacent kilns rather than in the tury, earlier than Leyhill, bricks were probably kiln under examination. Although the firing being produced at Rickmansworth for use in chamber of kiln 2 was densely filled with pot• the Manor of the More and in the royal palace tery, some of it large pieces, these clearly did at Kings Langley (Smith 1985, 27-8) and the not come from a collapsed firing, and so could Leyhill production may be a rural offshoot of theoretically have come from elsewhere. There this important centre. must have been sufficient interval between the last firing and the infilling of the oven for some The products of the Leyhill pottery kilns can of the internal arches to be removed, but the scarcely be described as innovative. The pro• interval cannot have been long or the void left duction of the srnali glazed cups, long grouped would have been filled with erosion products together under the general heading of 'Cister- rather than with pottery.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks are principally due to Richard and pared all the plans and sections for publication. Lorraine Pearce who not only permitted a HBMC kindly funded post-excavation work on large area of their garden to be dug up, but at the ceramic. Several people assisted with intervals provided refreshments for the work• documentary research on the area including ers. Marion Wells, a member of the Bucking• Val Kempster. Stan Cauvain kindly made av• hamshire County Museum Archaeological ailable his results from chemical analysis of the Group, was responsible for reporting the find sherds. Roger Little of Boscastle Pottery acting on information from Lindsay Faulkner kindly experimented with the clay and Dr. and gave much active assistance during the David Williams provided the thin section excavation, and subsequently, with Janet Chat• detail. fey, carried out local research. The Group pro• vided all of the labour during the excavation Finally thanks to Pam Russell for her usual and carried out preliminary processing of the tactful assistance in converting scribble into finds. The Liberty Trust kindly funded the arc• typescript. haeomagnetic dating. Simon Crutchley pre-

56 Plate I. Top: Leyhill kilns looking north.

Bottom: View of kiln 2, set inside kiln 1.

57 V1 00

Plate H. Left: South-western interior corner of kiln 1, as revealed in construction trench.

Right: Interior of pottery kiln (kiln 2). Plate III. Top: Spine wall of kiln 2 with one intact arch, flue to right.

Bottom: Intact sub-floor arch of kiln 2.

59 Plate IV. Top: Interior of kiln 2 looking east.

Bottom: Collapse of kiln 2 flue arch at stokehole end, spine wall of kiln 2 visible.

60 Plate V. Top: Vertical view of kiln 2 flue, with collapsed flue arch at stokehole end.

Bottom: Horizontal tile-blocking resting on floor of kiln 1 with front wall of kiln 2 and flue of kiln 2 above. 61 BIBLIOGRAPHY Baker, D. 1974 'Excavations in the area of Mill Street, Hurst, J., Neal, D. and Van Benningen, H. 1986 Bedford 1971', Beds. Arch. Jour. 9, 99-128. 'Pottery produced and traded in North-West Europe, Baker, D. 1979 'Excavations in Bedford, 1967-1977', Beds 1350--1650', Rotterdam Papers VI. Arch Jour 13. Hutchings, N. & Farley, M. 1989' A fifteen to sixteenth Clark, H. and Carter, A. 'Excavations in King's Lynn, century pottery industry at Tylers Green, Penn, 1963-1970', Soc. Med. Arch. Monograph 7. Buckinghamshire', Recs. Bucks. 31, 105-119. Cauvain, S. & P. 1979 'The products of a post-medieval Jennings, S. et al., 1981 'Eighteen centuries of pottery from pottery kiln from excavations at Emmanuel Church, Norwich', East Anglian Archaeology, Report No. 13 Chesham', Recs. Bucks. 21, 90--97. Jope, E.M. 1953 'Medieval pottery kilns at Brill, Bucking• Cauvain, S. & P. 1990 'Post-Medieval kilns at Emmanuel hamshire: preliminary report on excavations in 1953', Church, Chesham', South Midlands Archaeology,· Recs. Bucks. 16, 39-42. 29-31. Mayes, P. and Pirie, E. 1966 'A Cistercian Ware kiln at Chaffey, J. & Wells, M. 1989 'The distribution of medieval Potterton, Yorks' Antiq. Jour. 46, part IJ, 255-276. and post-medieval pottery in the Ley Hill area of Mayes, P. and and Scott, K. 1984 'Pottery kilns at Chilvers Buckinghamshire', Journal of the Chess Valley Arc• Coton, Nuneaton', Soc. Med. Arch. Monograph 10. haeological & Historical Society, 27-29. Moorhouse, S. 1971 'Two late and post Medieval pottery Chenevix Trench, J. 1977 'Kiln stoke holes at Glory Farm, groups from Farnham Castle, Surrey', Surrey Arch. Penn [Bucks)'. Manuscript notes at Bucks County Coli. 68, 39-55. Museum ref: CAS 2931. Mynard, D. 1975 'The Little Brickhill tile kilns and their Clark, A.J., Tartling, D.H. and Noel, M. 1988 'Develop• products', Jour. Brit. Arch. Assoc. 38, 55-80. ments in archaeomagnetic dating in Britain'. Journal Platt, C. and Coleman-Smith, R. et al 1975 Excavations in of Archaeological Science 15, 645--667. Medieval Southampton, 1953-1966. Vol2: The Finds. Farley, M. 1979 'Pottery and pottery kilns of the Post• Leicester University Press. Medieval period at Brill, Bucks', Post-Med. Arch. 13, Smallwood, J. 1978 'A Medieval tile kiln at Abbey Farm, 127-152. Shouldham'. East Anglian Arch. 8, 45-54. Farley, M. & Leach, H. 1988 'Medieval pottery production Smith, T.P. 1985 The Medieval Brickmaking Industry in areas near Rush Green, Denham, Bucks', Recs. England 1400-1450. Brit. Arch. Report, Brit Ser 138. Bucks. 30, 53-102. Steane, J.M. & Bryant, G.F. 1975 'Excavations at the Freke, D. 1979 'Excavation of a 16th century pottery kiln deserted medieval settlement at Lyveden, North• at Lower Parrack, Hartfield, E. Sussex, 1977', ants'. Jour. Northants Museum 12, 1-160. Post-Med. Arch. 13, 79-126. Wright, J .A. 1972 Brick Building in England from the Hassall, T.G., Halpin, C.E. and Mellor, M. et al. 1984 Middle Ages to 1550. (John Baker, London). 'Excavations in St. Ebbe's, Oxford, 1967-1976: Part Yeoman, P.A. 1988 'Excavation of an early post- medieval II: Post-Medieval Domestic Tenements and the Post• kiln at Temple Street, Brill, 1983', Recs. Bucks. 30, Dissolution Site of the Greyfriars', Oxoniensa 49, 123- 155. 153-274

The Society is grateful to HBMC for a grant towards the cost of publishing this paper.